Auxiliary tray for infants&#39; high chairs



Oct. 17, 1950 F. M. NELSON 2,526,576

AUXILIARY TRAY FOR INFANTS HIGH CHAIRS Filed July 16, 1948 mventoxl FREDER/CK M. NE/.so/v

Bg QIJML( l Gttorneg atented ct. 17, 195

AUXILI'ARY' TRAY FOR INFATS HIGH CHAIRS l'Frederick M. Nelson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 16, 1948, Serial No. 319,018

Claims.

This invention relates to van auxiliary tray for infants high chair. y

In the use of infants high chairs it is common practice -to construct the high chair with a seat, side arms and back. In addition to this structure a trayV is provided which pivots on the side arms and may swing upon a horizontal axis to assume a horizontal position resting upon the arms ofthe chair structure. Often the child seated within the chair is some distance from the tray structure, and Vthus there is a tendency for spilling food downV the bib of the infant, which food falls in the Vchilds lap.

It is desirable to provideV an auxiliary tray which will t between the child occupying the chair and the rear edge of the chair tray so that a bib may hang downwardly into the auxiliary tray, or so that with or without a bib any loose food will fall into the auxiliary tray rather than on the lap of the child. It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a f tray structure which is detachable in its nature and may be instantly placed in position upon a high chair and held as the main chair tray-is moved to its normal position.

The present invention contemplates a tray structure having ledge portions adapted to rest upon the arms of a high chair and a trough section which lits between the main chair tray and an infant occupying the chair, the trough I being so designed as to receive the food which may be dropped by the infant and to receive the lower end of the infants bib, thus insuring that all the loose material will fall into the auxiliary tray.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a conventional tray in dotted lines and showing the auxiliary tray as disposed in its operative position and illustrated in solid lines.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan showing the auxiliary tray and the main tray of the structure.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and particularly illustrates the manner in which the main tray of the chair holds the auxiliary tray in its set position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 5 indicates an auxiliary tray, and is of material which can be easily cleaned, such as aluminum, stainless-steel, or plastic. This tray is of such a length as to t freely between the side arms 6 of a high chair and defines a narrow trough, indicated at l in Fig. 3. Extending from the rim of the auxiliary ,tray atk its oppositev ends are tongues 8 for supportingV the tray on the chair arms 6.' To' hold the tray down on the chair arms the tongues 8`are inserted'beneath the main tray 9 of the high chair. The tongues are 'cut and formed to provide upright portions l0 which abut against the real` edge H of the'maintray and limit forward movement of the auxiliary tray. The abutments l0 are so located that, when the auxiliary tray is in position, its front edge is beneath the rear edge.v I l ofthe main tray, and the auxiliary tray presents a narrow opening between its rear edge l2 and the main tray for receiving the infants bib, indicated at I3 in Fig. 3. The rear wall Ill (Fig. 3) of the auxiliary tray is preferably inclined rearwardly., and is curved at its ends to form extensions l5.

When, at mealtime, the infant is seated in the high chair, the auxiliary tray is placed in front of the infant and the main tray is swung down (or otherwise moved into position on the chair arms) so that its rear portion rests on the front of the tongues 8 to hold the auxiliary tray down. The pressure of the infants body against the tray maintains the abutments I0 against the rear edge of the main tray so that forward or backward movement of the auxiliary tray is prevented; and since the body of the auxiliary tray is below the top surface of the chair arms, lateral movement of the auxiliary tray also is prevented. By raising the maintray 9 only slightly, the auxiliary tray may be removed for emptying and washing. Due to the absence of clamping or fastening devices,v placement or removal of the auxiliary tray can readily be accomplished with one hand.

It will thus be seen that the auxiliary tray here disclosed provides simple means whereby the main tray of a high chair may be supplernented to insure that all of the food will be caught and that none will be spilled in the lap of the child or dropped on the floor. It is also obvious that the structure here disclosed is sanitary and can be placedv in position or removed therefrom without the use of any special fastening means. Y

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. Y

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An auxiliary1 tray for infants high chairs,

being trough-like in shape, tongues extending oppositely from said tray and adapted to rest upon the arms of said high chair and over which the main tray of the chair rests, and abutments carried by the tongues and adapted to engage the rear edge of the main tray whereby the tray will be held against forward horizontal movement when positioned.

2. An auxiliary tray for infants high chairs said tray being of trough-like shape iitting between the side arms of a high chair, oppositely extending tangs carried at the opposite ends of said auxiliary tray and adapted to lie upon the side arms of said high chair and upon which the main tray of a high chair may be brought to rest, and abutments carried by said tangsand extending vertically to engage the rear edge of the main tray of a high chair when said main tray is in a position of rest upon said tangs, whereby the forward movement of said auxiliary tray will be limited.

"3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the troughlike auxiliary tray is formed with a front vertical wall and a rearwardly inclined wall.

"1. An auxiliary tray for infants high chair said tray being of trough-like shape fitting between the side arms of saidfhigh chair, oppositely extending tangs carried at the opposite ends of said auxiliary tray and adapted to lie upon the side arm's'a'nd upon Vwhich 4said main tray may be brought to rest, and abutments carried by said tangs and extending vertically 'to engage the rear edgeof the Vmain tray when said main tray is in a position of rest upon said tangs whereby the forward movement of said auxiliary tray will be limited, Vthe ilro'ugh-lik'e auxiliary tray being Vformed with a front vertical wall and a rear- 4 wardly inclined wall, the rearwardly inclined wall having inturned end portions forming recesses at the opposite ends of said tray and extending partially around the body of the occupant of said infants high chair.

5. An auxiliary tray for use with infants high chairs comprising; a trough-like body member having a vertical front wall and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined back wall, said walls being connected by vertical end walls, the inclined back wall being convexed longitudinally, a horizontal tang carried by the vertical end walls to rest upon the arms of an infants chair, a vertical tang carried by each of said end walls and adapted to project upwardly above the plane of the bottom of a main infants high chair tray whereby when the tray assumes a horizontal position resting upon the horizontal tangs the vertical tangs will abut against the rear edge of the main tray and prevent forward movement of the auxiliary tray.

FREDERICK M. NELSON.

REFERENCES 4CITED The follow-ing references are of record in lthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 646,084 YThompson Mar. 27, '1900 1,050,205 Conley Jan. 14, 1913 1,178,894 Wilcox Apr. 11, 1916 1,270,029 Heule et a1 June 18, 1'9'18 1,861,505 Snideman Dec. 7, 1920 1,486,813 Tallman Mar. 11, 1924 1,887,987 Beckerman Nov. 15, 1932 2,281,832 Cravotta May 5, 1942 2,423,489 Dunn 'July 8, y1947 

